The Ethics of Utility The Utilitarian Theory :

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Presentation transcript:

The Ethics of Utility The Utilitarian Theory : First, actions are to be judged right or wrong solely in virtue of their consequences. Nothing else matters. Right actions are, simply, those that have the best consequences. Second, in assessing consequences, the only thing that matters is the amount of happiness or unhappiness that is caused. Everything else is irrelevant. Thus right actions are those that produce the greatest balance of happiness over unhappiness.

The Ethics of Utility Third, in calculating the happiness or unhappiness that will be caused, no one’s happiness is to be counted as more important than anyone else’s. Each person ‘s welfare is equally important. As Mill wrote in his short work entitled,Utilitarianism, ”the happiness which forms the utilitarian standard of what is right in conduct, is not the agent’s own happiness, but that of all concerned. As between his own happiness and that of others, utilitarianism requires him to be as strictly impartial as a disinterested and benevolent spectator.”

The Ethics of Utility Utilitarians have different conceptions of intrinsic good: For most utilitarians, maximizing intrinsic good means maximizing happiness. We should always do what we can to maximize the overall happiness in the world. This is called hedonistic utilitarianism. Some utilitarians maintain that other things such as knowledge and integrity are intrinsically good, maximizing “well-being”. This is called ideal utilitarianism.

The Ethics of Utility Utilitarian views on animals and euthanasia are much different for utilitarians than they were for Christians, for example. Why?

Bentham’s Calculus of Pleasure Scale 1 - 10 Pleasure (+) Pain (-) INTENSITY DURATION CERTAINTY PROPINQUITY or REMOTENESS FECUNDITY (if pleasure, more pleasure will follow, same for pain) PURITY (if pleasure, what are the odds that it will not turn to pain) Add pleasure column and subtract pain column

Calculating Probabilities Case 1 : A husband, a wife and Alice. The husband and Alice has an affair. The utilitarian maintains that if the pleasure chart outweighs the pain chart, then the affair is good. We have to take in account probability. For example, what is the probability that the wife will find out. How should that impact the decision whether the husband should embark on the affair? Case 2: There are two groups of people stranded. We can only save one group, How can you be sure that we should save 10 people instead of 4? What if the group of 10 were murderers?

Calculating Probabilities Case 3: Paul Gauguin. What if Gauguin had been a “flash in the pan?” How could he determine maximum utility before he brought the world happiness with his paintings? Also, isn’t he violating a rule that says a person should not abandon his wife and child? Case 4: “Sometimes I think that I really want to do is kill people and drink their blood.” The person hasn’t done it and does not want to be committed. What is the greatest good? How can we know beforehand?

Objections to Utilitarianism Does the end justify the means? Are Consequences all that matter? Should consequences matter? (Kant) Impartiality. Personal relationships. Supererogation. Willing evil for others. Acts that are “Bad in Themselves.” Happiness and Individual Desert. Unchosen Duties. (Rand)